Beginning of the spa season
Culture is an essential part of life at the spas. Every year in May at almost all the spas the beginning of the spa season is celebrated. Special ceremonies see the springs blessed so that they do not lose their curative properties. In Carlsbad the event includes a procession in honour of the town’s founder – every year King Charles IV returns to the town with his large entourage.
Other towns hold traditional fairs as part of this event.
In contrast to these more traditional celebrations to mark the beginning of the spa season, in Teplice the event includes concerts of modern music on several stages around the town.
Colonnade concerts and performances
Throughout the year and especially during the summer season visitors can enjoy numerous concerts, including some which take place on the colonnades themselves as well as theatre, opera and operetta performances.
Film festivals
The International film festival (www.iffkv.cz) in Carlsbad is always a huge event. This is one of the most prestigious international category ‘A’ film festivals which at the beginning of July sees countless celebrities and personalities from this country and abroad descend on the spa town.
The Anifest festival of animated films takes place in Třeboň every year in May (www.anifest.cz).
Music festivals
An important aspect of cultural life at the spas are music festivals named after eminent musicians and composers – the Chopin Festival (www.chopinfestival.cz) in Marienbad, the Beethoven Festival in Teplice (www.severoceskafilharmonie.cz) and the Janáček and Luhačovice Festival to name just a few.
Museums and galleries
You will also find many museums and galleries in spa towns, housing collections devoted to the history of the spa as well as exhibitions of porcelain, glass, paintings and sculpture.
Excursions
The Czech Republic has a wealth of historical sights worth visiting. An obvious part of any spa break is an excursion which can be arranged through the individual spa facilities. Such trips could be to nearby castles and chateaux as well as to significant historical towns and UNESCO-listed sites.
